Indrajit Gupta, who died of cancer in Kolkata on 20th
February 2001 at 82, was one of the last of a generation of privileged Indians who
sacrificed the advantages of birth to serve the nation.

First elected to the Lok Sabha in 1960, Gupta had been its member
almost without break except for a brief period between 1977 and 1980.His stature as the
oldest member gave him the position as protem Speaker in 1996, 1998 and 1999, a ceremonial
office mainly to conduct the swearing in of the newly elected members.

Known for his outspokenness and clarity of thought and impeccable
language, Gupta was a journalist's delight. As an Opposition stalwart and Leader of the
CPI Group, Gupta's speeches in the Lok Sabha were marked by force with moderation,
criticism with reason, and earned him the admiration of even his political opponents.

Though not enamoured of office, Gupta accepted the Cabinet berth in the
United Front Government during 1996-98. As Home Minister, Gupta was still blunt about
government's failures and raised many an eyebrow among the Treasury Benches with his frank
observations.

Rising from the grassroots level in the Communist Party of India. Gupta
was made General Secretary of CPI in 1990 at the age of 71. He held the office for six
years till 1996. An active trade unionist, Gupta had earlier been General Secretary of the
All India Trade Union Congress during 1980-90. He was also Vice-President of the World
Federation of Trade Unions and elected its President in 1998.

Gupta's Lok Sabha victories have always been marked by big margins.
During his long years with the Lok Sabha, he had worked in a number of Parliamentary
Committees and chaired the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence.

Born on March 18, 1919 at Calcutta, Indrajit Gupta had his education
from St. Stephen's College, Delhi and King's college, Cambridge University.

Drawn to the Communist movement during his student days in Britain, he
went underground in India during 1948-50 when there was a crackdown on Communists.

With special interest in economics, defence and foreign affairs, Gupta
penned a few books on these subjects. These include 'Capital and Labour in Jute Industry'
and 'Self-Reliance in National Defence'. Married to Suraiya, Gupta had a son and three
daughters. His favourite pastime included reading, walking and games. Widely travelled,
Gupta had been a member of the Indian Parliamentary Delegation to several countries,
including Britain and Spain.

Indrajit Gupta was a very successful parliamentarian. In 1960 he was
elected to the Lok Sabha in a by-election from West Bengal and continued to be a member
till his death, with the exception of the period between 1977-1980. In 1996, Gupta became
the first Communist to occupy the powerful office of the Union Home Minister. That was a
dramatic reversal of roles, as the Ministry of Home Affairs had, since Independence,
banned the Communist Party thrice, with many of its members, including Gupta, being sent
to prison or pushed underground for long stretches.

Indrajit Gupta was also one of the country's blue-blooded elite--his
grandfather, father and brother were members of the Indian Civil Services. He was schooled
in Shimla, where his father had served as the first Indian Secretary to the Council of
States

Gupta's real contribution is more to the values of political India than
to the leftist universe. In his 37 years as a Lok Sabha member, he stood for principles
that can be encapsulated in the three simple phrases that President K.R. Narayanan used in
his condolence message: "Gandhian simplicity, democratic outlook and deep commitment
to values". When he was the Home Minister and the BJP the main opposition party, his
favourite phrase on meeting the more vocal opposition members after a stormy day was:
"If I were in the Opposition I'd have done what you did."

Not much of a Marxist theoretician in the mould of the CPI(M)'s E.M.S.
Namboodiripad or the CPI's Bhupesh Gupta, Indrajit Gupta was every inch a disciplined
soldier. After returning to India, he wrote to the party, offering his services "in
any suitable capacity". In 1948, when the party entered a sectarian phase as it
questioned, under the leadership of B.T. Ranadive, the newly- earned Independence, Gupta
dutifully performed his underground tasks under the alias Surya, given to him by the
party's "technical cell". In 1964, when the party split on the China issue,
Gupta was among the 35 members of the National Council who swore by the parent
organisation led by S.A. Dange. In fact, he drafted the main resolution of the Dange
loyalists. Always sceptical about the Congress, he formally opposed the idea of his party
joining the United Front cabinet in 1996 with its support, but caved in as the majority
demanded it.

In his personal life too, he was a stickler for decency. After joining
politics he accepted the official code of conduct of the Communist Party from which he
never deviated. He lived in a two-room quarter at the Western Court, and walked to
Parliament till he became a minister. During his ministerial days, he never allowed the
official car to enter the airport tarmac for him after a flight. Instead he would take the
airline coach. He had a long enough span though to prove the point that decency and grace
in public life still mattered, and that it is possible to be a gentleman and a Communist
at the same time.

On his death President Hon.K.R.Narayanan paid homage to this 'Outstanding Parliamentarian' (an award conferred on Indrajit Gupta in 1992):"It was with deep sorrow that I learned of the tragic death of Shri Indrajit Gupta in the early hours of today at Kolkata. A brilliant and veteran Parliamentarian and a true leader of the people, Shri Gupta remained at the vanguard of the Communist movement in our country and fought for the rights and freedoms of the people, especially the underprivileged, till the very end of his life. He enriched parliamentary proceedings and debates with his passionate espousal of public causes, his eloquent oratory and subtle and penetrating wit. In his long and eventful public life, marked by disarming simplicity, uncompromising integrity and honesty, Shri Gupta earned the affection and respect of all people who came into contact with him, cutting across the political parties and ideologies. Shri Indrajit Gupta also made his mark as an able administrator as Union Home Minister.

I was fortunate to have known him for many years, both inside and
outside Parliament and was struck by his Gandhian simplicity, democratic outlook and deep
commitment to values. I join all citizens of the country in paying homage to this
outstanding personality who served the nation with dedication and distinction, and extend
my heartfelt condolences to all the members of his family and his innumerable admirers and
followers."